Hillary Clinton on Technology

Against charging for e-mail

The debate’s moderator asked Clinton and Lazio: “How you stand on federal bill 602p?” “I have no idea,” Clinton interjected. The moderator went on: “Under the bill that’s now before Congress, the U.S. Postal Service would be able to bill e-mail users
5 cents for each e-mail they send. They want this to help recoup losses of about $230 million a year because of the proliferation of e-mail. So I’m wondering if you would vote for this bill, and do you see the Internet as a source of revenue for the
government in the years to come?“

Clinton said she wouldn’t support such legislation, but - ever careful - said she was basing her answer on what the moderator had said. ”Well, based on your description, I wouldn’t vote for that bill,“ Clinton
said. ”It sounds burdensome and not justifiable to me.“

The only problem is that the proposed bill, ”602p,“ does not exist. The hoax has circulated widely over the Internet since April 1999, despite continuing attempts to knock it down.

Source: MS-NBC report on debate in Manhattan
Oct 8, 2000

Details of “Bill 602P” hoax

The debate’s moderator asked Clinton and Lazio: “How you stand on federal bill 602p?” The only problem is that the proposed bill, “602p,” does not exist. An advisory on the Postal Service’s Web site put it this way in May 1999: “A completely false rumor
concerning the US Postal Service is being circulated on Internet e-mail. A similar hoax occurred recently concerning Canada Post. The e-mail message claims that a ‘Congressman Schnell’ has introduced ‘Bill 602P’ to allow the federal government to impose
a 5-cent surcharge on each e-mail message delivered over the Internet. The money would be collected by Internet Service Providers and then turned over to the Postal Service. No such proposed legislation exists.“

The hoax has persisted despite warnings
on some House members’ Web sites and despite the fact that ‘602p’ is not a valid designation for a congressional bill, which normally bears the preface of ”H.R.“ in the House and ”S“ in the Senate. Nor is there any member of Congress named Schnell.

Source: MS-NBC report on debate in Manhattan
Oct 8, 2000

Increase spending for libraries

We live in an information age when every New Yorker’s future depends on his command of that ever growing store of knowledge. This is a time to strengthen, to modernize, and to invest in our libraries.
As Senator, I would fight for new initiatives that increase funding for construction, technology, and updating critical resources of our public and school libraries.

Source: Speech before NY Library Association, Albany
Mar 15, 2000

Equal opportunity will bridge the digital divide

America faces a capital, educational & digital divide that needs to be bridged, especially to help minorities move forward in the 21st century. The lack of equal opportunity for access to capital and jobs is one of the unfinished pieces of business from
the last century. We should support tax credits & incentives and government guaranteed loans to leverage billions in new private investment and reduce the initial risk for businesses that agree to hang out their shingles in areas of high unemployment.

Source: (X-ref Welfare) Paul Hirschkorn, CNN.com
Jan 12, 2000

We can do more for New York’s biotechnology industry

All the elements are here, but much needs to be done to translate the state’s leadership in research to leadership in commercial applications. We need to promote the partnerships
needed between business and research, between business and government to keep the fruits of New York’s innovations in-state.

Source: Biotechnology conference in Manhattan
Nov 8, 1999

Train teachers to use technology in classrooms

The federal government [should] expand resources for high quality professional development opportunities, including more specialized training to use technology in the classrooms. There are so many of my friends who are teachers that are the
first to admit, like so many of us who are parents, that we cannot keep up with the technology that our children are able to master. And so our teachers need more support and opportunities to do that.